Government of Canada Opens Edmonton Operational Stress Injury Clinic

EDMONTON, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Dec. 16, 2009) - The Honourable Greg Thompson, Minister of Veterans Affairs, and Marianne Stewart of Alberta Health Services announced today the opening of a clinic in Edmonton dedicated to the treatment and support of service men and women living with operational stress injuries (OSI) such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression or addiction.

"The Edmonton Operational Stress Injury Clinic ensures that specialized services are available to meet the mental health needs of those in and around Edmonton and northern Alberta who have served our country," said Minister Thompson. "Edmonton is the ninth clinic to open in this expanded network so that Veterans, active Canadian Forces members and other clients of Veterans Affairs, as well as their families, have access to a full range of quality care services."

The Edmonton OSI Clinic is a joint initiative funded by the Government of Canada and operated by Alberta Health Services. The funding was provided to double the number of OSI clinics across Canada in Budget 2007.

Marianne Stewart, Vice President, Edmonton Zone, joined Minister Thompson in announcing the opening of the clinic.

"Through close collaboration with the federal government, we began operations at a temporary location within an existing health centre to ensure we could serve Veterans as soon as possible. In the spring of 2010, we will hold an official opening when the Operational Stress Injury Clinic moves into its permanent location."

Greg Prodaniuk, Western Canada Region Coordinator for the Operational Stress Injury Social Support (OSISS) program, stresses how important it has been to establish services in Edmonton for military and ex-military clients and their families who feel the impact of operational stress injuries.

"When we meet with peers who are in need of help, it's essential for us to know they can get services nearby. The Edmonton OSI Clinic is a critical component in a range of mental health care services for Veterans."

The Edmonton Clinic will have the capacity to provide specialized mental health services to between 100 and 150 clients a year. These could include Veterans, Canadian Forces members and eligible current and former members of the RCMP who have suffered service-related operational stress injuries, as well as their families. In addition to standardized assessment, treatment, prevention and support services offered through the clinic, educational programs and individual, group, and family counselling services are available. This clinic is part of an integrated network with National Defence's operational trauma stress and support centres-a key part of mental health services for Canadian Forces members and Veterans.